Chapter 266: Choice

Regarding Jiang Jiang Qinge's choice, Li Luo and the others did not object, because rationally speaking, if they continued to go deeper at this point and truly encountered that Calamity-grade Other, they would inevitably fall into an extremely dangerous situation.

When that time comes, casualties would be entirely normal.

An Other of that level was no longer something their lineup could handle.

Of course, choosing to retreat now meant giving up on the Level-3 Purification Tower they had been preparing for so long, which would undoubtedly cause them considerable losses, after all, the academy points from a Level-3 Purification Tower were extremely generous.

But in the end, Jiang Jiang Qinge still chose the latter between academy points and the safety of their lives.

If only their "Black Swan Squad" were here, Jiang Jiang Qinge might still have some adventurous thoughts, but they weren't alone—they had also brought along the "Justice Squad."

Although it sounded too blunt, if they truly ran into that Calamity-grade Other, Li Luo's Justice Squad would absolutely be a liability.

Once the group reached a decision, they stopped hesitating. After Senior Qiu Bai recovered slightly, they set off immediately, leaving this Purification Tower and rushing back toward the Purification Outpost.

However, just as Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo, and the others chose to abort the mission and rush back to the Purification Outpost, elsewhere in this region, another team had made a different choice.

Before a Purification Tower, the ground was a mess of wreckage.

Duze Duze Honglian's long hair was somewhat disheveled, but she paid it no mind, casually tying it up, then frowning as she glanced at a human figure hanging at the side of the Purification Tower.

On that figure's face still hung a grotesque smile, the corner of its mouth torn open, with fresh blood dripping down.

That was a member of Ye Ye Qiuding's squad, who had previously entered the Malice Huan Jing and been infected with a Malice Seed. Earlier, he had suddenly launched an attack, catching them somewhat off guard, but fortunately his strength wasn't too high, so she had quickly subdued him.

"Senior Duze Honglian, the situation doesn't seem quite right. That Malice Huan Jing seems to be a bit too strong," Ye Ye Qiuding walked over, his expression somewhat ugly as he spoke.

Duze Duze Honglian nodded and said, "At the very least it's a Calamity-grade Other, and it might even have reached Heavenly Calamity-grade."

A hint of Solemn also flashed through her eyes—how could an Other of this level appear in the outer region of the Dark Cavern?

"Then do we need to abort the mission?" Ye Ye Qiuding showed a hint of retreat; a Heavenly Calamity-grade Other was probably not something people like them could deal with.

Duze Duze Honglian was silent for several breaths, then said, "Judging from the situation at this Level-2 Purification Tower, that Other should be roaming around devouring other Others, which means..."

"The Level-2 Purification Towers further ahead may have already been cleared by this Other, and if we're willing to take some risks, we can activate these Level-2 Purification Towers at the smallest cost."

"This is free academy points!"

Ye Ye Qiuding couldn't help but be shocked upon hearing this: "Go further ahead?"

The others also looked over sideways.

Duze Duze Honglian said in a deep voice, "If we want to take first place in this Purification Mission, we have to take some risks. Besides, I haven't lost my mind either—we can try moving forward cautiously. If those Purification Towers ahead really have been cleared clean by that Other, then we'll step in and activate them."

"Furthermore, in my guess, that Other should have come from deep within the Dark Cavern. If it roamed here truly intending to devour all other Others, it would inevitably clash with the Others in the Level-3 Purification Tower's range, and those Others also possess Calamity-grade strength."

"If... they fight with everything they have and end up both grievously wounded, could that be our chance? Think about it—what an enormous amount of academy points would that be?"

The others exchanged glances, and for a moment they too felt somewhat tempted.

Because with this Level-2 Purification Tower, they had almost succeeded without the slightest obstruction. If not for the final discovery of that grotesque smiling face causing some trouble, it could truly be said they had taken it without shedding a drop of blood.

If the Level-2 Purification Towers further ahead were in the same situation, then for them it really would be free academy points.

However, such an action was bound to be somewhat risky.

After all, if they were unlucky enough to actually run into that Heavenly Calamity Other, they would likely pay an extremely heavy price.

Ye Ye Qiuding was somewhat hesitant. Although he too was tempted by that enormous amount of academy points, that grotesque smiling-face Other was truly terrifying.

Seeing this, Duze Duze Honglian continued, "Don't you want to take first place in this Purification Mission? If our gamble succeeds, our points will leave Jiang Jiang Qinge and the others far behind."

"At that time, she might regret not choosing you this time."

Hearing these words, Ye Ye Qiuding's face twitched slightly, a shade of gloom flashing through his eyes. In the end, he gritted his teeth and nodded forcefully.

"Then let's give it a try. But if the situation turns bad, I hope we retreat immediately."

Duze Duze Honglian clapped her hands together and laughed, "That doesn't need you to remind me. I don't actually want to really run into that Other either. I just plan to follow behind it—it eats its Others, we activate our Purification Towers. Each takes what we need, that's all."

They made their decision, waited for Ye Ye Qiuding's teammate to be purified and regain clarity, and then set off directly.

However, the difference was that Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo, and their group were retreating toward the rear, while they continued heading deeper.

Although there was the lure of enormous academy points, the group's advance was also extremely cautious and careful, which slowed their pace considerably.

So it was only after most of the day that they finally reached the next Level-2 Purification Tower.

When they carefully entered the range of this Purification Tower, they were pleasantly surprised to discover that, just as they had guessed, the Others around the Purification Tower had also been cleared clean!

When this Level-2 Purification Tower was once again activated by them with ease, the smiles on everyone's faces grew extremely fervent.

This kind of freebie was very satisfying.

"If we go further ahead, we'll be approaching that Level-3 Purification Tower..." Duze Duze Honglian's eyes burned with desire as she looked at the others and said, "Should we go take a look?"

"If that smiling-face Other has also made that place its feeding ground, it will inevitably clash with the high-grade Others there. That might be a chance..."

"If the smiling-face Other has cleared that place too, we'll activate the Level-3 Purification Tower and withdraw!"

The group exchanged glances, all of them suddenly tempted. Free pickup of a Level-3 Purification Tower? That was truly irresistible.

"We can go take a look, but if the situation turns bad, we still have to give up when we should," one of Duze Duze Honglian's teammates said after some deliberation.

Everyone nodded, and then set off impatiently.

Another half a day later.

They appeared on a mountain peak, their gazes looking toward a great mountain in the distance. The great mountain was shrouded in dense, viscous black fog so thick it was extreme, giving anyone who glanced at it a sense of oppression.

And on a Shanfeng deep within the great mountain, amid the surging black fog, the tip of a white tower could faintly be seen.

That was the Level-3 Purification Tower.

"It's very quiet inside, no movement at all." Duze Duze Honglian stared at that great mountain, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise, because this situation was almost exactly the same as those cleared Level-2 Purification Towers before.

Which meant this Level-3 Purification Tower had also been cleared by that smiling-face Other?

Did that not mean this Level-3 Purification Tower was already in their grasp?

The others were also very excited and about to set off, but just then, Duze Duze Honglian suddenly sensed a wave of unease and hurriedly shouted in a low voice: "Wait!"

Ye Ye Qiuding and the others all looked over in confusion.

A shade of paleness appeared on Duze Duze Honglian's beautiful face at this moment. She pointed at the sky above that great mountain, and when everyone's gazes followed, it was as if their scalps were about to explode.

Because up in the sky, the dense black fog was churning, and these black fog had formed a giant, grotesque smiling face.

And the smiling face was watching them.

(Today I posted a new picture of Jiang Jiang Qinge on WeChat; my nosebleed won't stop, everyone can go follow her.)